James River access at Galena

[bobby b.]

Can a person launch a flat bottom John boat (16 ft but floats in a just a few inches of water) at the ramp at Galena and motor down to Blunks and to the Shoals?

Thanks

Bobby

[Phil Lilley]

Oh yea... shouldn't have any problems at all. But I'd fish all the way down, especially the pockets, eddies.

[Bubbas Dad]

I tried it a couple of days ago current is strong in a places and there are some really shallow spots but like Phil said it can be done, but I am gonna need a new prop now There is a ramp at Blunks and you would have no problem from there to Taylor Shoals.

[bobby b.]

Thanks, sometimes the Blunks ramp and parking area really gets busy and the current at the ramp can be swift. Thought the Galena ramp might be better but just put a new 20 hp Merc on the boat and not too interested in ruining the prop in the first month.

[vonreed]

I was down there last summer and there was a huge gravel bar right in front of the ramp. I don't think any motored boat could have been put in and out there. Maybe the flooding has changed it. I'm talking about the Galena ramp.

I was at Blunks last night and the area was about as packed as it gets.

[Phil Lilley]

I haven't been on that stretch in a couple of years... didn't think about it changing. So better disregard my observation.

[Fishslayer88]

You probably can now but when the water gets low it gets pretty shallow.

[jskutt04]

I was down there last night. The water is moving really fast right now. I had a hard time getting the boat on the trailer.

[Sam]

I've put in at the Galena ramp only once, one spring several years ago when the James was running high and clear and the white bass were running. I had a partner with me and we got the boat launched OK, but in trying to get it back on the trailer I almost swamped it several times - the closest I've ever come to sinking/losing my boat. It's a well-built ramp, but it sets sideways to that strong river current. When my partner backed the trailer in just a little deeper to help me, the current jacknifed the trailer around sideways with no boat on it! Never had that happen before.

After that, my partner drove the truck and empty trailer across the bridge to the city park on the other bank, and we got the boat on the trailer. That side was out of the current, but we had to use a mud bank with no ramp and lots of 4WD - boat, trailer, truck, and both of us brought home lots of James River mud and we tore that bank up pretty good.

I don't think I'll ever use that Galena ramp again. If the river is up the current is downright dangerous, and when the water level is normal the river is too shallow around there and I'd wreck a prop for sure. Instead, the ramp where Blunk Road dead-ends into the river is pretty poor but it's usable, OR I usually just put in at Bridgeport and run all the way up. I sure miss "Charlie's $2. Ramp" at McCord Bend, which has been closed for several years now - we had a lot of fun going out of there.

[jcioni]

Didn't know Charlie's ramp was closed, I was thinking of using it next week, good to know. The ramp at Blunks was fairly busy last night and parking was at a premium.